Mac mini will not boot into Ubuntu or boot from linux cd

[bluepumpkin00100001]

Hello,

I have recently installed Ubuntu 9.04 on an intel mac mini (1.83GHz core duo). I had 8.10 for a long time before and it worked perfectly, but when I tried to update, it failed.

Anyway, I did a fresh install of 9.04 and after a bit of tweaking I got everything working properly.
Last night I restarted the computer and booted back into OSX before I went to bed. This morning I tried booting back into Ubuntu and it wouldn't :(
Also, somehow the firmware became password protected, and I never set it.
I've spent the last few hours searching the internet and trying everything I can find to get it to work again... I removed the password protection, reinstalled refit, reset the pram, and reset the firmware and it still won't work. It will boot into OSX and the 10.5 install DVD just fine, but whenever I try to boot any Linux cd or boot Ubuntu off the hard drive it never gets past the grey screen, and the computer gets ridiculously hot really quickly (like after 20 seconds it's almost painful to put my hand next to the fan). This happens when I try to use refit, when I hold down C, and when I use the boot camp menu.

any other ideas?

[bluepumpkin00100001]

oh, and also when I reboot now it takes significantly longer than it used to. Before it would restart almost immediately after the screen went black, but now after the screen goes black it just sits there for 10-15 seconds before I hear the startup chime again

[cyberdork33]

can you post the output of /Applications/Utilities/Partition Inspector

[bluepumpkin00100001]

Sure:



*** Report for internal hard disk ***

Current GPT partition table:
# Start LBA End LBA Type
1 40 409639 EFI System (FAT)
2 409640 271048407 Mac OS X HFS+
3 271048408 310761298 Basic Data
4 310761299 312581774 Linux Swap

Current MBR partition table:
# A Start LBA End LBA Type
1 1 409639 ee EFI Protective
2 * 409640 271048407 af Mac OS X HFS+
3 271048408 310761298 83 Linux
4 310761299 312581774 82 Linux swap / Solaris

MBR contents:
Boot Code: GRUB

Partition at LBA 40:
Boot Code: None (Non-system disk message)
File System: FAT32
Listed in GPT as partition 1, type EFI System (FAT)

Partition at LBA 409640:
Boot Code: None
File System: HFS Extended (HFS+)
Listed in GPT as partition 2, type Mac OS X HFS+
Listed in MBR as partition 2, type af Mac OS X HFS+, active

Partition at LBA 271048408:
Boot Code: None
File System: ext3
Listed in GPT as partition 3, type Basic Data
Listed in MBR as partition 3, type 83 Linux

Partition at LBA 310761299:
Boot Code: None
File System: Unknown
Listed in GPT as partition 4, type Linux Swap
Listed in MBR as partition 4, type 82 Linux swap / Solaris

[cyberdork33]

I think you need to mark the Ubuntu partition as active with fdisk (alter it in the MBR table). If that doesn't help, put it back on the OSX partition.

[bluepumpkin00100001]

k, thanks a bunch :D
I'll try it tomorrow... (don't have time to mess with the computer tonight :P)

[bluepumpkin00100001]

It worked :D
Thank you very much